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Accident – Death – Obituary News : : 1. UF staffer illegal export scheme
2. UF students Chinese exports scandal
A University of Florida research employee and students have been implicated in an illegal multimillion-pound scheme investigated by the Justice Department to ship drugs and toxins to China. The plot involved fraudulently buying thousands of biochemical samples of dangerous drugs and toxins that were delivered to a campus lab and then illicitly shipped to China over seven years. While the individuals involved are not named in court records, one student tied to the scheme as the president of UF’s Chinese Students and Scholars Association has been identified as Nongnong “Leticia” Zheng. The scheme, which ran from July 2016 to May 2023, involved smuggling materials like purified proteins of the cholera toxin and drugs like fentanyl and cocaine to China.
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1. University of Florida staff, students involved in illegal export scheme
2. UF faculty, students linked to Chinese export fraud case
GAINESVILLE — University of Florida Implicated in Illegal Scheme
In a shocking turn of events, a University of Florida research employee and students have been implicated in a multimillion-dollar illegal scheme investigated by the Justice Department. The scheme involved the fraudulent purchase and shipment of dangerous drugs and toxins to China, according to federal court records.
Details of the Illegal Scheme
Records revealed that the plot spanned over seven years, during which thousands of biochemical samples of dangerous drugs and toxins were fraudulently bought and shipped to a campus lab. From there, the materials were illicitly sent to China, raising serious concerns about national security.
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Key Players in the Scheme
While the identities of the UF employee and students involved were not disclosed in court records, one student, Nongnong “Leticia” Zheng, has been identified as a key figure in the scheme. Zheng, who is the president of UF’s Chinese Students and Scholars Association, was reportedly notified by a federal prosecutor last year that she was the target of a grand jury investigation.
Materials Smuggled to China
The materials smuggled to China included purified proteins of dangerous toxins like the cholera toxin and pertussis toxin, as well as analytical samples of highly purified drugs such as fentanyl, morphine, MDMA, and cocaine. These substances are strictly regulated and cannot legally be exported to China.
Involvement of Other Students
Prosecutors revealed that other students were paid to use their UF email addresses to order the substances, while a Chinese citizen majoring in marketing went as far as falsely representing herself as a biomedical engineering student to avoid suspicion when purchasing items.
University’s Response
The university has been cooperating with the Justice Department in the investigation, but has not disclosed if any disciplinary actions have been taken against the individuals involved. The scheme reportedly ran from July 2016 to May 2023, raising questions about oversight and security measures at the institution.
Legal Ramifications
The alleged ringleader of the scheme, Pen “Ben” Yu, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and faces up to 20 years in prison. Other individuals, including a sales executive from a biomedical company, have also pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges and are awaiting sentencing.
Conclusion
The implications of this illegal scheme involving the University of Florida have raised serious concerns about national security and academic integrity. As the investigation unfolds, more details are expected to come to light regarding the extent of the involvement of UF employees and students in this illicit operation.
